
In addition to theatre classes, Knox College offers countless opportunities to enhance your academic program through performance, independent study and College Honors; off-campus study and internships; and informal activities such as student-run theatre groups.
Unique among liberal arts colleges, Knox's Repertory Theatre Term recognizes and meets the special needs of students interested in theatre, as well as providing an unparalleled experience for the community. Students in the program receive a full term's worth of credit for one ten-week experience—"Rep Term." The program involves students in every aspect of a professional repertory theatre company, staging two complete shows in nightly rotation over a two-week-period, as well as conservatory work in voice and movement and a seminar that studies the theatrical and social context of the chosen productions.
Student Research and Creative Opportunities
Knox is a leader in promoting top-notch undergraduate research. In fact, more than 90% of all Knox students complete an independent research or creative project by the time they graduate. Many students' projects are supported by an unusually rich array of Knox College funding programs that together provide students more than $200,000 each year in support of their work. These sources include: Richter Memorial Scholars Program, Ford Foundation Research Fellows Program, Ronald E. McNair Fellows Program and departmentally supported independent studies. Assisted by faculty, many students find summer theatre fellowships in recognized theatres across the country. Examples of recent student research projects include:
College Honors
The Honors Program of advanced independent study allows outstanding Knox students to produce a major piece of research or creative work. The year-long project culminates in a thesis or creative portfolio followed by an oral examination conducted by your faculty committee and an outside examiner. Recent Honors projects in theatre have included:
Off-campus Study
Knox offers you plenty of opportunities to begin exploring the world while still a student. Almost 50% of Knox students participate in off-campus study and consider their studies abroad to be the highlight of their college experiences. In the past five years, students in theatre have studied in Chicago, Scotland, France, Italy, England and Russia.
Fellowships
Assisted by faculty, many students find summer theatre fellowships in recognized theatres across the country.
Internships
As a student of theatre at Knox, you'll have the opportunity to expand your education—to get that valuable experience you hear so much about—by completing an internship. Internships provide an opportunity to explore and test career options, to gain experiences and skills needed to succeed as a professional, to build a resume, to network and make critical connections, and to experience a work environment. More and more employers are looking for college graduates with career-related experience. Knox's Center for Career and Pre-Professional Development specializes in helping you find an internship that best matches your goals and interests. A recent internship by a theatre student was:
Knox College is one of the top liberal arts colleges in the nation for Fulbright Scholar grants awarded to faculty during 2009-2010. Karen Kampwirth is studying feminism and politics at the University of Buenos Aires, and Jeremy Day O'Connell is conducting musicology and linguistics research at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Knox-Sandburg Community Concert Band, Knox Wind Ensemble, and individual music students perform in concert and recital, November 13 through 17 at Knox College.
The Knox Jazz Ensemble's Fall Concert will include works featuring arranger Yumi Kusunoki, vocalist Devan Cameron and clarinetist Michael Yu.